Sharpening device



Oct. 29, 1935. F. E. BROBERG SHARPENING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1953 @W F E. flrobsr Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to sharpening devices, and more particularly to a novel hand machine for sharpening razor blades, but which is susceptible for use in sharpening all types of cutlery.

It is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide novel means for mounting the abrasive or'sharpening elements relative to the guide for the blade to be sharpened, whereby the sharpening elements will give a diagonal wiping stroke on the blade edge, and thereby bring about the effective sharpening of the blade.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a blade sharpening device embodying a casing provided with a novel guide for receiving the blade edge, with rotatable members arranged on opposite sides of the guide and at an angle thereto, whereby upon rotation of said members the same will be carried with a wiping eifect diagonally across the blade edge, and thus produce the desired cutting edge.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for forming the rotatable sharpening elements themselves, whereby the same will be urged into frictional wiping contact with the blade during the rotation of said members, each of said members including thin, resilient body portions for creating the desired tension on the blade.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for detachably connecting the abrasive or sharpening strips with the resilient body supporting members, whereby the abrasive or sharpening members can be readily renewed when worn or disfigured.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for simultaneously rotating the sharpening members from a single hand crank, and in the same direction, with the members preferably disposed at right angles to one another, whereby first one member and then the other will be brought into successive engagement with the opposite sides of the blade.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for forming the casing or housing for receiving the various operating parts, so that parts of the housing can be quickly removed to disclose the interior to allow necessa repairs and the like to be made.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved sharpening device of the above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manu facture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section through my improved sharpening device.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through my improved device, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my improved device with the front wall of the casing or housing removed, and with parts of the top wall broken away and in section toillustrate structural details.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved device, which comprises a casing or housing 5, preferably but not necessarily made from-sheet metal. This housing 5 includes like companion side walls 6 and I, and the forward ends thereof are preferably arranged in converging relation as" at 8. Securely connecting the side walls together is a U- shaped supporting bracket 9, the legs of which support and carry bearings I0, for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Connected to the side walls 6 and 'I is an arcuate rear wall II, and the upper edge of this rear wall is provided with an inturned retaining flange I2. Detachably connected with the front edge of the side walls is a removable front wall I3, and this wall is detachably connected with the U- shaped bracket 9. As shown, a flange I4 is formed on the rear edge: of the front wall and is provided with openings for detachably receiving pins carried by said bracket. The top of the housing is closed by a cover plate or top wall I5, the rear end of which slides under the retaining flange I2. Suitable fastening elements (not shown) can be utilized for detachably holding the said cover plate in position.

In accordance with my invention, the cover plate is provided with a central, longitudinally extending slot I6, and the walls of this slot have formed thereon depending guide flanges H, which form means for guiding the blade during the sharpening thereof. When a razor blade is to be sh.arpened,'the same is preferably clamped in a suitable handle or holder and the blade edge is placed in the slot with the holder resting on the guide flanges IT. A U-shaped strap I8 is employed for rigidly connecting the sections of the cover plate together on opposite sides of the slot. I

Formed or secured to the cover plate on opposite sides of the slot are upwardly extending,

converging, hollow guide lips I9, and these guide The removable front wall I3 has its upper edge provided with a guide slot 20, which is in direct alinement with the guide slot l6, and thus the blade can be easily moved from. one end of the slot to the other. If preferred, a slotted barrel 2| can be secured to the front wall l3 across the slot 20, and this barrel receives opposed bearing balls 22, which are held therein by means of an ad-' justing plug or screw 23. The opposite sides of the bearing balls rest upon compressible friction washers 24, and the blade is adapted to ride between the said balls, and the same act as further means for guiding the blade and prevent injury to the sharpened edge thereof.

- Rotatably mounted within the bearings I is the main drive shaft 25, and one end of this shaft is extended beyond the housing or casing for the reception of a suitable manipulating member,

' such as a hand crank 26. This crank is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft end. Obviously, other means can be employed for operating the shaft, such as a foot treadle or a small electric motor.

Secured to the shaft in .any preferred manner,

in spaced relation relative to one another, is a pair of relatively large gear wheels 21. These gear wheels mesh at all times with relatively broad pinions 28. These pinions 28 are keyed or otherwise secured to relatively short stub shafts 29 located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center'of the device, and, as shown, these shafts angle inwardly and upwardly toward one another and are disposed in a plane above the main drive shaft 25. These shafts are rotatably carried by .bearing brackets 30, which brackets can be rigidly secured to any preferred part of the housing, or to the main bracket 9.

The inner ends of the shafts 29 carry the novel wiper or sharpening members 3 I, and these members are rigidly connected with the shafts 29 for rotation therewith in any preferred way.

By referring to Figures 2 and 31 of the drawing, it will be noted that each one of the wiper or sharpening members 3i includes a relatively thin supporting body 32. This body 32 is formed from resilient or spring metal, and consists of a hub body portion 33 and radially extending spring blades 34. The ends of these blades are preferably bowed inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the casing, for a purpose which will also be described.

The inner faces of each of the supporting bodies 32 carry the abrasive or sharpening pads 35, formed from the desired material, such as leather or the like. These sharpening pads are preferably detachably secured in plates so that the same can be renewed when worn or disfigured, and, as shown in the drawing, the edges of the blades 34 of the supporting bodies can carry f-bendable tongues 36 for engaging the edges of the pads.

Obviously, by rotating the hand crank 26, the shafts 29 will be simultaneously rotated in the same direction, carrying the wiper or sharpening .Tmembers 3| therewith. The hollow guide lips l9 form means for housing these members during the rotation thereof.

By referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the sharpening members 3i are preferably disposed at right angles to one another, so that first one member and then the other will be brought into wiping contact with the blade being be sharpened is placed within the slot, and the hand crank is turned. The sharpening members will then wipe past the blade, in the manner specified, and due to the resiliency of the supporting bodies 32, a frictional contact will be had and thus bring about the desired sharpening operation.

During the rotation of the sharpening members, the blade can be moved back and forth in the slot sov that the wiper will act on the entire length of the edge to be sharpened.

Particular attention is directed to the angle of the shafts 29 and the sharpening members 3| and the position thereof, as by this'arrangement the members are enabled to strike the blade above its edge as the blade is reciprocated back and forth thereby preventing the catching of the members on the blade edge.

A strap 40 can be secured to the bracket 9, and the ends of the strap can be extended beyondthe sides of the housing or casing and forms means whereby the housing can be rigidly secured to a suitable support, such as a wall, table-top, etc.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a novel form of blade sharpener, which willeifectively bring about the desired results.

, Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A sharpening device comprising a housing having a longitudinally extending guide slot for slidably receiving the blade to be sharpened, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, means for operating said shaft, a pair of spaced gear wheels secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of short shafts rotatably mounted within the housing on opposite sides of the guide slot, said shafts being arranged at an angle to one another, relatively broad pinions secured to the last-mentioned shafts and meshing with the gears, resilient wiper members rigidly secured to the inner ends of the last-mentioned shafts for wiping movement past the guide slot, said resilient Wiper members being arranged ously rotating the shafts, sharpening members carried by the shafts disposed below the guide slots for movement past the same, each of said sharpening members including a resilient body having inwardly extending blades, and sharpening pads carried by said blades.

FRED EDGAR BROBERG. 

